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Well, after tonight's Wizards-Raptors game, It's safe to say that Michael Ruffin is a serious candidate for the Hall of Fame
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...thy/index.html
"Hall monitor
Which NBA vets deserve enshrinement in Springfield?
Posted: Friday March 30, 2007 1:04PM; Updated: Friday March 30, 2007 4:30PM
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The Hall of Fame is set to announce its Class of 2007 on Monday. To mark the occasion, we thought it would be fun to predict which of today's current players will soon be joining the enshrinees in Springfield, Mass.
The only caveat is that we're only going to consider players who are in their ninth season or more. Sorry, LeBron and D-Wade, but you'll have to wait. For now we want to just analyze those players who have a long and proven track record in the NBA.
Keep in mind, the Basketball Hall of Fame is a very exclusive club. It is not like the baseball Hall, which seems to allow in every pitcher who manages to hang around 15 seasons. In basketball, you're lucky if one or two guys make it in a given year. In fact, over the past five years there have been only seven players inducted (not counting veteran's committee selections): Charles Barkley, Joe Dumars, Dominique Wilkins, Clyde Drexler, Robert Parish, James Worthy and Magic Johnson.
Also, this is by nature a subjective exercise. We happen to prefer players who leave a mark on the game more than those who pile up big stats. You might have a different view, and that's OK. But here's a note that might be of interest: Every past MVP has made it to the Hall (which is good news for Kevin Garnett).
No-brainers: These guys are in
Shaquille O'Neal - Ranks with Chamberlain, Russell and Abdul-Jabbar on the list of all-time greatest pivots; has four NBA rings and an MVP.
Tim Duncan - One of the greatest power forwards ever to play; three NBA les and two MVPs make him a first-ballot shoo-in.
Allen Iverson - The best scorer under 6-foot-5 ever to play the game; owns the third-highest scoring average of all time.
Kobe Bryant - One of the greatest scorers ever, but also a fierce compe or and three-time NBA champ.
Kevin Garnett - The NBA's Ernie Banks; even if he never wins a ring, the '04 MVP deserves it for all-around excellence and love of the game.
Steve Nash - The only player under 6-5 to win two MVPs. Plus, he's Canada's biggest contribution to basketball since Naismith.
Probably in, but have to think about it
Jason Kidd - One of the all-time best point guards, and the most creative passer of his era; played the game at both ends, and made it to two NBA Finals with Nets.
Gary Payton - One of the game's top defenders; was also a 20-point scorer who led Sonics to the NBA
Finals, and won a ring as backup with Heat in '06.
Dirk Nowitzki - Maybe the best European player ever, the 7-foot German has established himself as one of the top scorers of his era. But if his Mavs blow it again, all bets are off.
Bubble candidates
Vince Carter - Eight-time All-Star and one of the all-time best dunkers, but has never won anything and had a messy departure from Toronto.
Ray Allen - Seven-time All-Star and owner of one of the all-time prettiest jump shots, but has never led his team past the conference semifinals.
Paul Pierce - May go down as the greatest scorer in Celtics history, but has none of the playoff success associated with Boston's glorious tradition.
Tracy McGrady - One of the premier scorers of his era, but he too lacks postseason validation. His next playoff series triumph will be his first.
Ben Wallace - Four-time Defensive Player of the Year and anchor of the Pistons' 2004 championship. But should he get in if he only played at one end?
Dikembe Mutombo - Unlike Wallace, he has a 10-point scoring average to go with his four Defensive Player of Year trophies. But he doesn't have the ring.
Early Hall potential has since faded away
Grant Hill - The former Duke standout was well on his way before a foot injury derailed his career. Too bad, because he is also one of the game's all-time gentlemen.
Alonzo Mourning - A few years ago I thought he should get in, but I've changed my mind. Now I think he'll be remembered more for his courageous comeback from kidney disease than his fierce defense and shot-blocking. And that's not a bad thing.
Chris Webber - Like Hill and Mourning, he had a chance before suffering a devastating injury (knee). At least he's regaining a measure of pride in Detroit.
As for everyone else ...
... you had your moments and you made a nice chunk of change. But sorry, Chauncey Billups, Mike Bibby, Rashard Lewis, Jermaine O'Neal, Stephon Marbury, Michael Finley, Robert Horry, Sam Cassell et al. -- you'll need to buy a ticket for this Hall of Fame."
Well, after tonight's Wizards-Raptors game, It's safe to say that Michael Ruffin is a serious candidate for the Hall of Fame
Dirk will get in based on his NBA and International career.
Manu's already in. He could retire tomorrow he'd be in thanks to the Argentina/Italy stuff.
Obvously the publishing deadline was before James White's debut for the Spurs.
I would reverse Kidd + GP with Nash. Playing with those athletes, in that system, is like a steroid shot for a very good point guard.
Horry and Reggie Miller not in the hall of fame is stupid. You can't measure a great player ineligible to be in the hall of fame without post season success, then turn around and deny these two because of their careers, which were written in by post season success.
I think Reggie should be in but not Horry because Horry doesn't really impact the game as much as Reggie does.
ummm.... Horry has shot three teams to championships. Reggie got blocked by Detroit once, and really made e Lee look like a chump once, and won a championship zero times. As far as championships go, Horry has impacted the game as many times as Michael Jordan. To impact means to leave an impression... correct??? I think think Horry's rings leave a bigger divot than anything Reggie ever left behind.
Ummm...
Horry was never the best player on any of those teams. He was never the second best player on any of those teams. He may have been the third best player on one of them (the 1994 Rockets), but electing Horry to the HOF based on his inclusion on six championship rosters would be a stretch Mr. Fantastic couldn't pull off.
Put Horry in Miller's place on those Indiana teams (as the #1 scoring option, not as the shooting guard) and tell me with a straight face that Horry still wins six championships. Convince me he even gets to a conference finals.
To say Horry's impact was equal to Jordan's is the height of ludicrousness.
Put Horry on even one of Miller's teams as the "who cares what number of best" player and maybe Miller might have won a ring. Horry isn't the leader. He's the fantastic partner. And neither the Rockets nor the Lakers nor the Spurs would have won some of their championships without him.
I didn't say Jordan's impact was equal to Horry's. That's generalized nonsense. Jordan was the best compe or to ever play basketball. Although Horry did happen to elevate three different teams to championships....... but Jordan was pretty cool when he played for the Wizards.
How did Michael Finley even make that article?
I seemed to have remembered him being quite a prolific scorer... just checked the stats though and he never even broke the low 20's in scoring average during his peak.
soooooo never mind.
Well, someday Avery Johnson and Malik Rose will have their numbers hanging from the ceiling of the AT&T Center. It's all about context.
A. You clearly contradicted yourself
B. I didn't say "ADD Horry to Miller's teams", I said "REPLACE Miller with Horry"
C. I do agree that Horry has a unique place in NBA history, but that in and of itself is not HOF worthy. Look at all of the NBA players in the HOF - you're going to find that they led their teams in points, rebounds, assists etc. year after year after year.
Horry may have prevented the 2002 Lakers and and 2005 Spurs from being eliminated, but that's worlds apart from saying he was the reason they won. Horry made high-profile contribututions to the more substantial efforts of better teammates Olajuwon, Thorpe, Drexler, O'Neal, Bryant, Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker. Remember the saying about the stonecutter? Horry may have made the most noticeable blow, but the Olajuwons, O'Neal, and Duncans of the world made many, many more blows along the way. Miller made more blows along the way, too.
If Reggie Miller should be in the HOF because of his postseason success, then why do you portray Reggie as a player who didn't accomplish much?ummm.... Horry has shot three teams to championships. Reggie got blocked by Detroit once, and really made e Lee look like a chump once, and won a championship zero times. As far as championships go, Horry has impacted the game as many times as Michael Jordan. To impact means to leave an impression... correct??? I think think Horry's rings leave a bigger divot than anything Reggie ever left behind.
I believe Rashard Lewis will make it to the HOF one day if he plays for a coach that will maximize his abilities.
I think the point is that you need BOTH big numbers and post season success. There is no way in that they let career 7.2ppg Horry into the HOF. NO ING WAY.
Gotta agree w/Ex....If there was just a HOF for playoff performances,though...then Horry would own it.
How is Dirk not a lock?
^^^ yea IF the Mavs don't win this year's finals, I still don't see why Dirk won't be a lock. KG has never made it to the finals and yet he is a lock.
AND it's arguable that Dirk > KG when their careers are over.
Not if you evaluate two-way players. KG just SMOKES Dirk as a defender, shot blocker, rebounder, and he's damn nears as good offensively.AND it's arguable that Dirk > KG when their careers are over.
I seriously think Horry has a shot at the hall. He deserves it if for no other reason because three teams should retire his jersey. (they won't except for houston who will probably get that honor.) Every championship he has been a part of, he has played a crucial role in the games that decided that championship. How many players can you say that about? How many players have then gone on to do that with two other teams?
The other thing about Horry is that he has the personality/ connections to have a whole litany of players/ coaches supporting his bid.
Not true. He, with the Bucks, made it to game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals in 2001.Ray Allen - Seven-time All-Star and owner of one of the all-time prettiest jump shots, but has never led his team past the conference semifinals.
I think Allen should join the "probably in, but I'd have to think about it" category.
I think Ginobili is in as well.
There's zero chance that Horry makes the Hall of Fame.
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